What measures have been taken by your State to implement those existing principles of international humanitarian law that are considered by your State as relevant to the use of munitions, including submunitions, that may become ERW?
In answering this question, States may like to address, among other issues, the following specific questions: …
(v) Does your State have a mechanism to review the legality of new weapons, methods of warfare and military doctrine? (If yes, what is the legal basis for those systems?)
20. In keeping with article 36 of Additional Protocol I of 1977, as well as other provisions of international law, Mexico has machinery which reviews the lawfulness of the manufacture, purchase, transfer, storage, sale, import, export, possession and carrying of weapons, ammunition and explosives.
21. To this end it has a National Security Council whose task it is to lay down and articulate policy in this area, on the basis of the National Security Act published in the Diario Oficial on 31 January 2005. Specifically, article 5, section VIII, of the Act lays down that any act involving unlawful trafficking in nuclear material or chemical, biological or conventional weapons constitutes a threat to the country’s security.
22. The Council also plays a role in the issue of licences for carrying firearms in order to exclude weapons expressly banned by the legislation and those reserved for use by the army, navy and National Guard. It is also involved in the import, export, monitoring and, where appropriate, issue of permits for trade in, transport of and storage of firearms, ammunition, explosives, chemical weapons, devices and strategic equipment, in accordance with sections XVI and XVII of the Act.
23. Where the arms trade is concerned, the weapons and munitions marketing unit is an agency of the General Directorate of the Military Industry and was established under a decree published in the Diario Oficial on 11 April 1995. This decree empowered the unit to market weapons, munitions and ancillary equipment for public security bodies, private businesses, individuals and persons engaged in sporting and hunting activities, in keeping with the Federal Firearms and Explosives Act.
Responses to Document CCW/GGE/X/WG.1/WP.2, Entitled IHL and ERW, Dated 8 March 2005: Response from Mexico (10 February 2006) CCW/GGE/XIII/WG.1/WP.5
